2010-11 Men's Basketball Preview

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team and seventh year Head Coach Erik Smiles (123-48) have added plenty to the roster this season, after a year filled with unexpected tragedies saw the Rams finish with a 13-13 record and a loss in the Skyline Quarterfinal's in 2009-10.

The team returns four starters from last year's squad, including senior guard Shahee Martin (West Hempstead H.S.), a 1st Team All-Skyline selection after leading the team with 16.7 points per game; senior guard Alvin Dennis (Bellport H.S.), who joined the team mid-season last year and shot 50-percent from the field; sophomore guard Christian Nunez (White Plains, H.S.) with a .714 free throw percentage and senior forward Nikita Davis (Telecommunications H.S.), who averaged 13 points and eight rebounds.

Joining the squad this season are top recruits, such as:

Senior Jermaine Abraham (Wadleigh H.S.), a 6'7 forward from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina (a DII school in the CIAA).

Junior John Dabney (Freeport H.S.), a 6'2 guard from Nassau CC, who he was named 1st Team All-Region XV in 2009-10.

Junior Dyshaun Flournoy (Brentwood H.S.), a 6'2 guard from Suffolk CC, who was named 1st Team All-Region XV and 3rd Team NJCAA All-American in 2009-10.

Senior Keith Nandin (St. Francis Prep), a 5'10 point guard from Dowling, who led the Lions in three-point shooting in 2008-09, averaging 9.5 points and four assists per game.

Junior Richard Payton (Amityville H.S.), a 6'1 guard from Nassau CC, who holds the assists and steals record at both Nassau and Amityville.

Junior Joshua Smith (Deer Park H.S.), a 6'2 guard from Suffolk CC, who was named 2nd Team All-Region XV.

Coach Smiles noted that "he's looking forward to the season with a great core of guys returning and we brought in a big recruiting class that gives us added talent, depth and size. I also feel like we have great leadership and chemistry, which I feel could put us over the top."

The Rams will officially open their 25-game schedule at the Hampden-Sydney Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, November 19th against Virginia-Wise at 9:00 p.m., followed by a game on Saturday against either Methodist or Hampden-Sydney. Other non-conference games added to their 20 Skyline matches include: Baruch on November 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and a New Year's Tournament hosted by St. John Fisher College on December 29th-30th.

Farmingdale State has been selected to finish second in the Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.